Portable compound pressure booster



Jan. 20, 1959 R. E. WALLACE, SR

PORTABLE COMPOUND PRESSURE BOOSTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 15, 1955 2 ROBERT E.WALLACE. SR. BY

' ATTORNEYS,

Jan. 20, 1959 R. E. WALLACE, SR 2,369,326

PORTABLE COMPOUND PRESSURE BOOSTER Filed July 13, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ROBERT E. WALLACELSR.

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent M The present invention is concerned generally with pressure boosters and more'specifically with portable hydraulic pressure boosters of .the compound type wherein selective pressure boosting may 'be effected with a hand .type tool.

The device of the present invention is primarily con- .cerned with hydraulic pressure, .regardless of the liquid used, Whether it be water, oil or some other suitable liquid. The device is also usable in supplying air pressure, hence the generic term fluid pressure is applicable.

Modern industryfinds many uses for ,ifluid pressure operated mechanisms. Such pressure may be supplied by various sized compressors storing pressure in reservoirs or by so called accumulators, wherein liquid 'is pumped under pressure into collapsible weighted tanks from which the liquid pressure is drawn as needed. Unlike such devices, the ,present invention is concerned with taking a liquid from .any source .of supply under any available pressure .and boosting such pressure for a pre-selected specific purpose. "Thus the ,presen'tinvention may be used to supply .any one of a plurality of hydraulic pressures'to test the bursting strength of various closed pressure vessels .such :as pipe, tanks,. etc. The invention maybe also used -as .a stand-hy'or emergency pressure booster for use when .the regular .or standard pressure supplying equipment is impaired .or temporarily insufiicient to effect the desired operation of the fluid pressure actuated mechanism. In all applications of the invention it is equally veliective Withsubstantially @no movement or full movement of the differential pistons.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a pressure booster having several stages of pressure increasing action upon .a liquid .ina'closed circuit which pressure increasingorboosteractions maybe sequentially initiated.

Another object .of the invention :is .to provide :a compound pressure booster :of .the type described wherein each pressure boosting .stage vof .operation .may be at its rated capacity or anyportionthereof.

Another object of the invention .is to provide a device of the character described which is truly .portable, being of a size and weight as to be readily transported or used by a single operator .as in the case :of any hand tool.

.Another object .of the .inventionis :to ,provide a device of the character described which .is flexible :in .function wherein .the fluid under any .pressure received by the device from any available :source of supplymay .be .delivered to a pre-selected place at any desired :increase of pressure up to the rated capacity of the device.

A further object of my invention is to provide .a hydraulic pressure booster which is compact, has few moving parts, low in cost of maintenance and extremely flexible in operation.

These and other objectswill be made apparent [from the following"specificationand from the drawing forming apart thereof in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinalcross section through a more 2,869,326 Patented Jan. 20, 1959 or less diagrammatic showing of the device with the control valves shown in closed position by dotted lines for initial installation of the device;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. ,1 wherein all of the pressure booster valves are open for full use of the capacity of the device;

Fig. 3 shows one form of connection between the de vice and a receiver of the boosted pressure; and

Fig. 4 shows another application of the device as a stand-by emergency booster in a pressure actuated closed system.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the pressure booster is provided with two difierential cylinders referred to generally as A and B, with the respective difierential pistons C and 'D mounted therein. A fluid inlet E is connected by valved conduits G and 'H with the diiierential cylinders A and B. Differential cylinder A is comprised of two open ended cylindrical portions 1 and 2, the portion 1 being the largest. The portions 1 and 2 may be formed as a single unit or of two separate units connected together by any suitable means at 3. Within cylinder A is mounted the diiferential .piston C comprised of a head portion 4 having a sliding fit in cylinder portion 1, a second head portion 5 having a sliding fit in cylinder portion 2 and a suitable stem portion connecting the head portions. Suitable packing rings 6 and 7 respectively are mounted in the piston 'head portions 4 and 5. Adjacent the portion 3 of cylinder A and behind head portion 4 within cylinder portion 1 are suitable compression springs 8. The portion 3 is preferably provided with one or more air vents 9. Cylinder B is comprised of two .open ended cylindrical portions 19 and ll, the portion 19 being the larger. These portions 1%) and ti may be formed as a single unit or of two separate units connected by any suitable means as at 12. The portion 10 being vented as at 13.

Differential cylinders A and B have a conduit connection l4 comprised of the L 15, conduit 16, T 17, L 18 and nipple 19. Nipple 19is7mounted in the closure member 20 detachably connected with the open end of portion 1 of cylinder A as by screw threads. The L 15 has a threaded connection with portion 11 of cylinder B. The T 17 is connected with a three way valve 22 forming part of conduit G. Fluid inlet E is connected by T 23 with conduits G and H. T 24 of conduit G is connected by check valve 25 with the three way valve 22 and by a suitable member such as union 26 to conduit member 27 which is preferably a section of flexible hose. T 23 of conduit H is connected, as by union 28 with conduit member 29 which is preferably a section of flexible hose. Member .2? is connected in turn by union 30 to L 31, three way valve 32 and closure member 33 of portion 10 of cylinder B. Hose sections 27 and 29 are provided at each end with the usual clamps 34 and 35 respectively. Within cylinder B is the differential piston D provided with head portion 36 in cylinder portion 19 and a second head portion 37 Within cylinder portion ll. Such head portions are connectedby a suitable stem. liston heads 36 and 37 have sliding fits within their respective cylinder portions and are provided with suitablepacking rings 38 and 39.

Conduit .G providesfluid from asupply source to each workingportionof the compound pressure booster. To the right of member 27 of conduit G, as seen in Figs. 1 and ,2, are the portions of the pressure booster concerned With the device or object to be pressurized. The union 40 -connects hose 27 to T 41. L 42 connects T 41 with check valve 43, three way valve 44 and T 45 having mounted therein gauge 46 and outlet connection 47. T 41 is-a'lso connected through sleeve 48 to two way valve 49 and check valve 50 to cross 51. Cross 51 has connected therewith T 52 conducting fluid under pressure from portion 2 of cylinder A to outlet 53 connecting with the unit or device to be pressurized. Also connected with I connected by an expandable connecting member 56 dis posed within a pipe or other suitable opening of a unit to be pressurized. The expandable member 56 is described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 306,633, now Patent No. 2,733,450. In such a type of connection outlet 53a extends through member 56 and conduit 57 connects outlet 47 with member 56.

By Fig. 4 is shown how the booster may be connected with a standard pressure supply system of any device equipped therewith. One example of such a device is the pressure actuated system for raising and lowering the landing .gear of an airplane. pressure from a pressure reservoir or accumulator R to the landing gear operating device M, the normal flow of pressure being indicated by dotted arrows. The return flow of fluid from the landing gear operating device is through conduit 59 to accumulator R as similarly indicated by dotted arrows. The pressure booster of the invention may be permanently introduced into the aforesaid standard pressure supply system by an inlet conduit 60 connecting fluid' supply conduit 58 to the pressure booster fluid inlet E and an outlet conduit 61 connecting the pressure booster outlet 53 with the standard pressure supply system conduit 58 supplying pressure to the landing gear operating device M. A check valve 62 is. then mounted in the conduit 58 preventing flow of pressure from the booster to the accumulator R of the standard operating system. Conduits 63 and 64 are provided for connecting the respective exhaust outlets 65 and 66 of the booster valves 22 and 32 with the return line 59 .thereby maintaining a closed system of fluid flow to and from the landing gear operating device under all conditions, standard or emergency.

Referring now to the operation of the pressure booster of the invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, valves 22 and 32 play an important part in the regulation and maintenance of the pressures supplied by cylinders A and B. Valves 44 and 49 control flow of fluid from inlet E to the member 52 and expandable member 56. Valve 55 is primarily a drain valve exhausting fluid through member 52 when valve 49 is closed. The operation of these valves for the recited purposes will hereinafter be detailed in the description of the operation of the booster.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the pressure booster in its respective operative positions. Assuming'the pressure booster is to be used to pressurize a closed container (not shown) for any selected purpose, valves 22, 32, 44 and 49 are moved to closed position as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. Pressure outlet conduit 53 is then connected with the container by any suitable means, preferably a solid connection. Booster fluid inlet E is then connected with any available source of fluid supply such as water, oil, etc. Fluid is then admitted to the booster through inlet E and passes through conduit H to closed valve 32. Fluid also flows in one direction through Ts 23 and 24 to closed valve 22, and in the opposite direction through conduit G to closed valves 44 and 49. Since conduit 53 is directly connected to the container, valve 44 remains closed. Valve 49 may now be opened permitting fluid in conduit G to flow through 52 into the cylinder portion 2 and through conduit 53 into the aforesaid container (not shown). After the container is filled, the fluid fills cylin der portion 2 and, if necessary, will return piston head to the position shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted in Fig. 1 that valve 22 in closed position, as shown by dotted lines, exhausts air or liquid behind piston head 4 of cylinder portion 1 through members 17, 18 and 19 permitting the aforesaid movement of piston head 5. If no air vent Here conduit 58 carries is provided on the container, drain valve 55 may be opened slightly and valve 49 maybe alternately opened and closed so that air trapped in the container escapes through valve 55. After the container is filled with fluid and all air exhausted therefrom, drain valve 55 is closed and valve 49 remains open. Valve 22 is then opened to the position shown by full lines and fluid flows through T 17 filling cylinder portion II of cylinder B moving piston 37 to the right with air behind piston head 36 venting to the atmosphere through exhaust port 66 of valve 32. Fluid also flows from T 17 into portion 1 of cylinder A behind head 40f differential piston C. Fluid pressure from inlet E building up in cylinder A behind head 4 of piston C is transmitted through piston head 5 into the fluid within cylinder portion 2 and into fluid Within the container being pressurized. Such pressure is also transmitted through member 52 into conduit G and if not interrupted would flow back through inlet E. The check valve 50 prevents this back pressure through conduit G. The multiple relation of the diameter of head 4 of piston C to the diameter of head 5 of the piston determines the degree of increase of pressure in cylinder 2 and outlet 53 thereof. which is registered on the suitably calibrated gauge 54.

In the event that full fluid pressure on piston head 4 from the inlet E would produce a pressure larger than desired in cylinder portion 2, the pressure of fluid from inlet E may be controlled by only partly opening valve 22. Valve 22 may thus be manipulated from closed to fully open position to obtain any desired pressure in cylinder portion 2, registered on gauge 54, up to the full boosted pressure capacity of the differential piston C. In the further event that differential piston C can not produce suflicient pressure from the fluid flowing from valve 22, valve 32 of differential cylinder B may be opened as shown in full lines on Fig. 2. In this arrangement fluid pressure .from inlet E is also admitted to portion 10 of cylinder B and against head 36 of dilferential piston D. The resulting increase in pressure on fluid in portion 11 of cylinder B over pressure at inlet E acting on differential piston head 36 is the multiple relation between the diameters of head 36 and head 37. This multiplied or boosted pressure from cylinder portion 11 is then transmitted through conduit 14 to the fluid in cylinder A behind differential piston head 4. Head 4 acting on head 5 of differential piston C again boosts the pressure from cylinder B according to the ratio of diameters of head 4 and head 5 and imposes this additional pressure on fluid then in cylinder portion 2 which is registered on gauge 54. As in cylinder A, full or only partial boosted pres sure from cylinder B may be regulated by suitably controlling the opening of valve 32. Pressure from cylinder B on fluid within conduit 14 would normally be imposed upon fluid in conduit G through valve 22 were check valve 25 not present. Valve 25 prevents back flow of fluid from conduit 14 through valve 22 into inlet E, while permitting flow of fluid from inlet E to valve 22.

After the desired pressure has been imposed upon the fluid within the container being pressurized, as registered by gauge 54, this pressure may be maintained by closing valve 32 as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. If desired, the pressure on fluid within the container can be selectively reduced from maximum to the pressure at inlet E by selectively manipulating valve 22 from closed position as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 to exhaust position as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. In such cases where a plurality of containers as above referred to are to be sequentially connected with conduit 53 to be pressurized, the pressure booster may be returned to initial inoperative position, each time, by closing valve 49 and valve 22 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and moving valve 32 to exhaust position as shown by full lines in Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 3 of the drawings wherein is shown means for attaching outlet 53a of the pressure booster to a pipe oran opening in a container, the device as shown is claimed and described in my copending application aforesaid and reference is made to the copending application .for details of construction and .operation of the sealing member 56. Those .parts of the pressure booster not shown in Fig. 3 are identical with that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The inflatable sealing member .56 is mounted on a conduit 53a which is substituted .for the conduit 53 of Fig. 1. The conduit 57 supplying fluid for inflating member 56 is connected .theretoand to member 47 of the pressure booster. Conduit 53a is first connected to a member 52 and the valves '22, .32, 44, 49 and 55 are positioned as shown in Fig. 1. The member 56 is theninsertedin thepipe or opening 68 of'a vessel to be pressurized, the booster inlet E is attached to a fluid supply and valve 44 opened to permit fluid to flow through conduit 57 andinflate meniber56. The amount of fluid pressure within member 56 is registered ongauge 46. Valve 49 may then be opened to .permit fluid-toflow from conduit G through conduit 53a into member 68. Such action will normally reduce fluid pressure in conduit G .and correspondingly in inflated member 56. This reduction however is prevented by check valve 43 which normally is open to passage of fluid from member 42 through valve 44. Whenlhowever pressure from 42 is reduced, pressure in member 56 closes check valve 43 preventing any material reduction of pressure in 56. After member 68 andcylinder 2 are filled with fluid the booster device may be actuated as previously described by actuation of cylindersA or A and B to secure the desired total pressureto be imposed on fluid within the pipe 68. In the event air is trapped behind member 56, valve 44 may be manipulated from open to closed position to slightly release the sealingengagement between 56 and 68 to permit escape of air therefrom. Whenit is desired to remove member v56 from member 68 after the latter has been pressurized by fluid pressure in conduit 53a, valve 22 is first moved toexhaust positionas shown by dotted lines in Fig. l and if cylinder B has been energized, valve 32 .is moved .toexhaust position as shown'by fulllines in Fig. 1. Valve 49 is then closed cutting off flow of fluid from conduit G to conduit 53a, andvalve 55 opened to exhaust pressure in cylinder portion .2, .conduit 53a and member 68. Valve 44 may then be moved to exhaust position .as shown in .Fig. 3, exhausting pressure from member 56causingit to deflate. Deflated member 56 may then -be:readily withdrawn from member-68.

Referring now to Fig. 4 of the drawings, the booster of the invention is shown as being permanently connected with the fluid pressure lines of a fluid pressure actuated mechanism. This mechanism may be of'most any constructiomfor example, the fluid pressure actuatedmechanism .for.raising and lowering the landing gear of an airplane. The conduit 58 conducts fluid under pressure from the accumulator R to the landing gear actuating mechanism M and conduit '59 returns the fluid from M to R. The pressure booster tofthe invention, as shown in Figs. -1 and 2, is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4 as being permanently connected by conduits 60 and 61 to conduit 58 and by conduits 63 and -64 to conduit'59. When so mounted, the pressure booster may be used for a plurality of emergency applications. It may be used to replace pressure lost from accumulator R by leakage in line 58. It may be used to provide an emergency increase in the normal accumulator pressure in line 58 to lower the locked or frozen landing gear for landing of the airplane. When used with other and different pressure actuated mechanism on units other than an airplane the booster can be employed to eifect the desired increased hydraulic pressure in the conduits carrying fluid to the mechanism. One outstanding advantage in the use of the booster of the invention for these purposes lies in its ready inclusion into the fluid and pressure carrying conduits of the particular mechanism without interfering with its normal operation so that the fluid circulates through the booster at all times keeping the booster filled .6 with "fluid for instant use. When the booster .is used in such situations, .member 42 and its associated members may be removed from conduit G of the booster and the resulting opening closed by any suitable means.

In .Fig. '4, the pressure booster normally has valves 22, 32, 44, 49 and .55 closed. The fluid circulating in .conduit .58 between Rand M also fills conduit 60, conduits G and H, cross 5]., cylinder portion 2, conduits 53 and 61; the latter being .connected to conduit 58. The booster differential cylinder A and differential piston C are thus ready for instant use at any time upon opening valve 22. This stand-by condition of fluid in the booster is shown by dotted lines and'arrows. If desired gauge 54 may be normally used to indicate pressure in'the line from R to M. At any time 'when'such pressure is insufficient,- valve 22 may be opened a suitable amount permitting fluid from R to flow through conduit 14 into portion 11 of differential cylinder B and portion 1 of differential cylinder A. Fluid under pressure behind the head 4 ofdifferential piston C actu'ates that piston; transmitting boosted pressurein cylinder portion 2 through conduit 61 into conduit 58 connected with mechanism M. This movement 'of pressure from cylinder A is shown by full lines and arrows. Any back pressure in conduit 58 .between conduits 60 and 61 would bestopped by check valve 62 which permits flow from R .to M only. The amount of pressure increase in-conduit-61 would be registered on gauge 54. 'If this additional pressure is suflicient for the purpose, the fluid in M would return through conduit 59 to R. Valve 22 couldthereafter be closed to drain fluid in cylinder .A from behind differential piston head 4 so that differential piston C would be returned to the left by reason of fluid pressure in cylinder portion 2 and conduit 60. The conduit 63 would carry the fluid'exhausted from valve 22 into return conduit 59. Should pressure from cylinder A be insuflicient to operate M, valve 22 should be left open andvalve 32 actuated to permit flow of fluid from conduit H into cylinder B to actuate piston D thereby further-increasing pressure on head 4-of,piston C over that suppliedby R through valve 22. Boosted fluid pressure from portion 2 of cylinder A would then pass-through conduit 6-1.and 58 to M. After M was-suitably actuated, fluid in cylinders A and B could be drained therefrom by closing valves 22 and 32 to permit fluid to exhaust therefrom through outlets 65 and 66 into conduits'63 and 64 leading to conduit 59 carrying exhaust fluid back itoR. The booster is then ready for another emergency operation.

The pressure booster device herein disclosed may be constructed for delivering zany =multiple of any initial pressure atwhich fluid is supplied to inlet E of the de vice. It will be understoodthat the device will be constructed to withstand the maximum pressures delivered by the .device. The two differential cylinders A and B .may .be constructed with their pistons effecting any desired multiple'of-the pressures admitted to the cylinders. For example, assume that inlet E is connected to a source tof fluid supply delivering fluid at 50 ,p. is. -i., :that the ratio of the area of .head 4 of piston C to its head 5 is 5 to l and that the ratio of the area of head 36 of piston D to its head 37 is also 5 to l. Fluid at 50 p. s. i. admitted to cylinder A effects a pressure of 250 p. s. i. on the fluid in portion 2 of cylinder A and in outlet conduit 53 which is registered on gauge 54. Should this pressure be insufficient, fluid from inlet B may be admitted through valve 32 to cylinder B and against head 36 of piston D. This will effect a pressure of 250 p. s. i. in portion 11 of cylinder B which is transmitted through conduit 14 to cylinder A. This pressure of 250 p. s. i. now applied to head 4 of piston C effects a pressure of 1250 p. s. i. upon fluid in portion 2 of cylinder A and is transmitted through conduit 53 to the mechanism or device to be pressurized. This total pressure is registered on gauge 54. Suitable manipulation of valves 22 and 32 from fully closed to fully open permits full control of fluid pressure admitted to cylinders A and B. Thus fluid under pressure of 50p.s. i. from inlet E may be admitted in any amounts from 1 to 50 p. .s. i. through valve 22 to cylinder A. Obviously no movement of piston C or any increase of pressure in portion 2 of cylinder A is registered until the pressure on head 4 of piston C over comes the initial 50 p. s. i. pressure in portion 2 of cylinder 1 resulting from fluid initially admitted to cylinder portion 2 from inlet E. The pressure booster may be constructed with any desired ratios in cylinders A and B other than 5 to 1. Suitable calibration of rod 67 provides a ready indicator for the position of head 4 of piston C in cylinder A. This is of considerable value where the pressure booster is connected with a mechanism or device' wherein movement of fluid in the device permits movement of piston C to a point Where piston head 4 is hearing solidly through spring 8 on portion 3 of cylinder A. In this event valve 22 could be positioned to exhaust fluid from behind head 4 of piston C permitting piston C to return to the position initially shown on Fig. 1. In this event fluid flowing through conduit G would flow through member 51 into portion 2 of cylinder A replacing fluid initially displaced by movement of stem 5 of piston C. I

Many obvious modifications in the details of construction disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention disclosed. It is for these reasons that the exact details of construction disclosed are for purposes of illustration and not limitation except as made necessary by the scope of the appended claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 306,633 filed August 27, 1952, now Patent No. 2,733,450.

I claim:

1. In a hydraulic pressure booster, in combination, a pair of spaced differential cylinders having differential pistons mounted therein, a conduit connecting the inlet end of the first of said pair of cylinders and the outlet end of the second of said pair of cylinders, means forming a connection between the outlet end of the first named cylinder and a device to be pressurized, a fluid supply line connecting the said conduit with said means, an inlet connection on said fluid supply line for attachment to a source of fluid supply, a check valve in said fluid supply line between said inlet and said conduit preventing flow of fluid from the conduit to the iinlet, a valve in said fluid supply line between said check valve and conduit con- I trolling flow of fluid from the said inlet to the said conduit and exhausting fluid from the conduit, a second check valve in said fluid supply line between said inlet and the said means preventing flow of fluid from said means to said inlet, a second fluid supply line from said inlet connection to the inlet of said second named cylinder, and a valve in said latter fluid supply line selectively admitting fluid to said second named cylinder and exhausting fluid therefrom.

2. The hydraulic pressure booster as defined in claim 1 wherein the first said fluid supply line has a pressure 8 gauge mounted in the line between the second named check valve and the said means.

3. The hydraulic pressure booster as defined in claim 1 wherein the fluid supply inlet is connected with an actuating pressure supply line of the device to be pressurized, the outlet end of the first named cylinder is also connected with the said actuating pressure supply line, a check valve is mounted in said actuating pressure supply line between said connections thereof to the pressure booster preventing flow of pressure from the said first cylinder outlet to the booster inlet, and the exhaust outlets of the control valves of the pressure booster are connected with the exhaust pressure return line of the said mechanism whereby said pressure booster functions as a stand-by emergency device having the said control valves normally closed and the booster fluid supply lines continuously energized with fluid from the actuating pressure supply line during operation of the fluid pressure actuated mechanism.

4. A portable compound hydraulic pressure booster comprising a differential cylinder having a differential piston therein, a conduit connected with opposite ends of said differential cylinder, 21 fluid inlet connecting the conduit to a source of fluid pressure, a check valve in the conduit adjacent the cylinder outlet restricting flow of fluid in the conduit in a direction to the inlet from the discharge end of the cylinder, a second check valve in the conduit limiting fluid flow therein from the inlet end of the cylinder to the fluid inlet, manually operated valves in the conduit adjacent each end of the cylinder selectively admitting flow of fluid from the conduit to the differential cylinder, a second differential cylinder having a differential piston therein, a connection between said conduit and outlet end of the second cylinder simultaneously supplying fluid to the inlet end of the first cylinder and the outlet end of the second cylinder, a second conduit conmeeting the fluid inlet with the inlet end of the second differential cylinder, a manually operated valve in said second conduit selectively admitting fluid to the inlet end of the second cylinder and exhausting fluid therefrom, and a third conduit extending from the outlet end of the first cylinder to a unit to be pressurized.

5. The portable compound hydraulic pressure booster as defined in claim 4 wherein the first named conduit has therein a gauge continuously registering fluid pressure in the discharge end of the first named differential cylinder. 6. The portable compound pressure booster as in claim 4 wherein the manually operated valves in each said conduits adjacent the inlet ends of the cylinders are three way valves selectively supplying fluid to the associated cylinder, cutting off all flow of fluid therethrough and exhausting fluid from the inlet end of the cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,587,571 Lombard Feb. 26, 1952 2,634,468 Holder Apr. 14, 1953 2,706,891 Greer Apr. 26, 1955 

